Bryant will continue with a program of non-weight bearing exercise, consisting mostly of working out on a stationary bike. — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 29, 2014

Bryant was diagnosed with a knee a fracture in mid-December and was initially ruled out for six weeks. This injury followed his return from the Achilles tendon tear that forced a seven-and-a-half-month recovery and has allowed him to play in only six games for the Lakers this season. While there was hope that Bryant could return to help his floundering teammates, it appears that he will need more time on the sidelines.

This news most clearly affects Kobe's All-Star status, but it's possible that it will have a greater impact on the Lakers' season. With a record of just 16-30 after Tuesday night's loss to the NBA-best Indiana Pacers and in the midst of a 3-17 stretch, the Lakers don't figure to get much better over the next few weeks. Their season has become about planning for the future, both in terms of figuring out who on the roster can help long-term and draft position. Bryant is a fierce competitor, but he's also smart enough to know that he can only help this team so much this season. With limited years left and injury a concern, it's unclear how much returning to the Lakers will mean, in terms of tangible benefits to the franchise's win-loss record.

These concerns go far beyond the Lakers keeping Kobe as a tanking tactic, because this knee injury could limit Kobe in future seasons, too. We expect Bryant to return as soon as his body allows him, but we also know much less than ever about what his physical limits actually are. The three-week wait to learn more about his health could very well turn into something much longer.